Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03

Three Years Now He Has Kept up His
Tireless Walk, Unable to Stop.

John Owen Snider, the now world
wide famous pedestrian, has pur-
| chased himself little farm of forty
| acres within four miles of this city,
and out in the rear of his dwelling we
| found him at his endless, never-ending
task-tramp, tramp, tramp, on and
on. never faltering. tagging or firing
OF his weariless journey. The Their
mometer registered Ito degrees in the
| sun, yet above his beaten track amidst
its glare, glitter and burning rays, on
| he went as unconcerned about its
melting heat as if amid the coolest
shades of autumn. Not a particle of
perspiration was apparent-he was as
1.-the of form, as quick of step, as con-
genial, pleasant and ready to converse
as nearly three years ago when we
first met him on his tireless tramp.
We accosted him with Good morn
ing, Uncle John" He said Good
morning" as cheerily and pleasant as
though on quiet stroll.
"Well, Uncle John, you are still on
your endless walk?"
yes, sir" said he, land I am now
convinced it will be an endless tramp
with me, and will end only when l am
dead.
Cant you stop a moment to con-
verse with an old friend?"
LAS much as. l would like to- I dare
not. | cannot do So"
Cant you lay down to rest at
nightP'
mo, sir. I have been in bed only
once in now nearly three years, and
then only for an hour, and it made me
so tired and sore that l had to run for
five hours to rest myself"
"How do you sleep?"
81 sit down in that chair you see
there, sleep for about two or three
hours, never more than that, and
sometimes am walking about my path
here when I wake"
''Have you ever tried to stop walk
ingP"
"a thousand times-yes, ten thou
sand times-I have tried to stop, but
the moment [ make the effort my legs
cramp and pain me SO am compelled
to run about for an hour to get them
easy again"
''How do you take your meals?"
''You see that large tray there" said
he (pointing it out to meg, with those
leather straps. I fasten it in front of
me, and eat as I walk"
II am informed that you shave your
self and cut your hair as you travel
about. Is that true?"
eyes, sir. [ can shave, cut my hair
and battle myself with as much ease
as though at rest
"You don't mean to say you battle
yourself while waIking?"
81 do. I dampen towel, and,
while walking about my room, re-
move my clothing and battle myself.
I do so three times week, always in
the morning before any one of my
family is up."
.sHave you ever been tired of walk
ing?"
Il have answered that question to
at least ten thousand people. | never
| was tired for moment, only when
trying to rest.
"Then walking rests you?"
eyes, sir; if am weary l just in
crease my pace, and after running 8
while I get rested and feel first rate"
''Do you like to converse with
friendsp'
81 do, only when they try to con-
vince me / am crank, crazy or a
| hypochondriac. / am neither. l would
be fool to tramp about for nearly
| three years, day and night, for at least
twenty hours out of every twenty
four. Crank. crazy or fool, would
give out in that time, sure"
| We found the muscles as tense and
firm as whip-cord. His pulse num-
bered rs. We took his temperature;
it registered SO, heart beat steady, and
with good impulse; eyes clear, bright,
and pupils equal in size and respon-
sive, intellect unimpaired, physique"
good, digestion perfect, appetite not
in the least depraved, ana without
single index for guide to a solution
Of the malady that affects him. We
were forced to give it up and wonder
| the more at the marvel before US.
| "Uncle John, tell US what you think
about, how you content yourself. In
the long, dreary night time, when
every one is asleep but yourself-no
one to watch or converse with-don't
you get sad and tired of living?"
"Well," said be, ''you have asked
three or four questions at once. do
get lonesome sometimes; then | take
fresh chew Of tobacco, whistle or sin"